13 Students Charged For Murdering College Dorm Mate In Sabah Last March
107 injuries were found on the body of the deceased.
By Aleya Natasha Mohd Ali — 28 Nov 2024, 12:22 PM
Thirteen students have been charged with the joint murder of 17-year-old Mohammad Nazmie Aizzat Mohd Narul Azwan at Lahad Datu Vocational College last March
According to the New Straits Times, a forensic pathologist specialist informed the Tawau High Court that her examination of the victim's body revealed there were 107 injuries on his body.
As the fifth prosecution witness, Dr Dzureena Abdul Multalib said the injuries comprised of 102 bruises and five abrasion wounds.
"There was a total of 107 injuries, while the abrasion wounds refer to injuries that occur due to destruction of the superficial layer of the skin (epidermis) caused by friction against a hard surface," she said during the trial before Judge Datuk Duncan Sikodol.
In her witness statement, Dr Dzureena said based on the post-mortem examination findings, the cause of death of Mohamad Nazmie was concluded as chest and soft tissue injuries due to blunt force trauma.
Thirteen students, aged between 16 and 19, were charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code read with Section 34, which carries the death penalty, or imprisonment for 30 to 40 years, and up to 12 strokes of the cane upon conviction.
Dr Dzureena confirmed that the 107 injuries were sufficient to cause death and informed the court that the victim had injuries from head to toe, including possible defensive wounds on both arms
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Nur Nisla Abd Latif requested for clarification on the causes of blunt force trauma, specifically asking Dr Dzureena if striking or swinging a cable cord towards the deceased would constitute it.
She further inquired if the combination of injuries observed — including strikes with cable cords, repeated punches, kicks to the waist and stomach, head stomping, and being pushed into metal lockers — could cause death.
"What is the action that could possibly cause the death of the deceased?" Nur Nisla asked.
"All of the above, specifically the chest and soft tissue injuries in combination, caused the death of the deceased," stated Dr Dzureena.
During the trial, the victim's mother, Siti Hamidah Jumari, 45, couldn't hold back her tears when asked to identify a photograph of her late son
The prosecution is led by DPPs Nur Nisla, Ng Juhn Tao, and Nur Batrisyia Mohd Khusri.
Eight of the 13 accused are represented by lawyers Datuk Ram Singh, Kamaruddin Mohmad Chinki, and Chen Wen Jye, while the remaining five are defended by Mohamad Zairi Zainal Abidin, Abdul Ghani Zelika, Vivian Thien, Jhassany P Kang, and Kusni Ambotuwo.
